Residents Support Fired Finance Director

SUNRISE -- About 80 residents representing several condominium associations rallied in the rain in an effort to get Bill MacDonald reinstated as the city`s finance director.

The rally on Monday was led by Richard Valenti, a community activist who has led the campaign to get MacDonald rehired. Valenti said representatives of the West Broward Homeowners Association, the Gold Key Civic Association and the Sunrise Lakes condominium community were also in attendance at Welleby Hall for the rally.

``He was appointed by Attorney General Bob Butterworth,`` Valenti said of his friend, MacDonald. ``Those credentials say a lot for the guy. He was forced to resign, but we know the guy`s honorable.... We`re unhappy with what`s going on in the city.``

City Manager Dale Sugerman fired MacDonald on Feb. 20 after a dispute between the two men.

Sugerman said MacDonald, a city employee for more than four years, was not doing his job and refused to cooperate with the administration. MacDonald responded by saying he was dismissed for revealing misspending and poor administration by Sugerman.

Within a week of MacDonald`s departure from city government, City Auditor Scot Menke also quit, citing concerns similar to those of MacDonald.

In the time since being fired, MacDonald said he has begun working as an assistant city manager in an another city, which he declines to identify. He also has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was fired for revealing alleged wrongdoing by the city administration.

Despite this, Valenti said he is confident that MacDonald would return to Sunrise if given a chance.

``He`s an honorable man and he wants to come back to Sunrise,`` Valenti said. ``Of course he`s got to eat. The trial could be a year, two, three, four years away.``

Valenti said he has obtained almost 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for MacDonald`s reinstatement. He is also encouraging MacDonald supporters to send letters of protest to City Council members, a majority of whom have backed Sugerman`s handling of the dismissal.

Mayor Dan Pearl said on Wednesday that he already is receiving letters at City Hall. The mayor refused to say how many letters he has gotten, saying he is bound to remain silent because of MacDonald`s federal suit.